Paper napkin machine



y 11, 1939- P. J. CHRISTMAN 2,165,786

, PAPER NAPKIN MACHINE Filed May 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 11,1939. P. J. CHRISTMAN PAPER NAPKIN MACHINE Filed May 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet2 E Ur PETER J. CHRISTMAN y P. J. CHRISTMAN 2,165,786

PAPER NAFKIN MACHINE Filed May 22, 1957 4 Sheets-Shee t 5 y 1939- P. J.CHRISTMANQ 2,165,786

PAPER NAPKIN MACHINE Filed May 22, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July11, 1939 UNETE' STATES;

PATENT FFiCE PAPER NAPKIN MACHINE Application May 22, 1937, Serial No.144,147

20 Claims This invention relates to a web folding and severing machineand more specifically relates to a paper napkin folding machine,

The machines of this invention include a pair of cooperating foldingrolls adapted to receive a web of paper into the nip therebetween.Suction or other means are associated with each of the cooperatingfolding rolls for gripping selected portions of the web against therolls. The operation of the suction means is so synchronized andarranged that the leading end of the web is folded alternately againstfirst one roll and then the other. Thus, while the leading end-of theweb is held against one of the rolls, the suction means becomeseffective to engage an intermediate portion of the web against the othercooperating roll. As the rolls continue to rotate, the leading end ofthe web is released and guided over to the roll against which theintermediate portion of the web is held to thus effect a fold in theweb.A severing de vice is provided in. the machine for'severing the foldedportion of the web from the remaining portion of the Web while so heldagainst one or the other of the folding rolls. Strippers efiect theremoval of the folded web portions after the severing operation.

The web may be fed into the nip of the cooperating rolls in alongitudinally folded form, whereupon the rolls effect a transverse foldin the longitudinally folded web.

An important feature of these machines resides in the mounting of aplurality of folding rolls in superimposed relation :upon the same shaftso that a plurality of webs can be folded at the same time. While themachine will be hereinafter described as including two pairs ofcooperating folding rolls, it should be understood that one pair or anynumber of pairs of ioldin rolls can be used.

It is then an object of this invention to provide a web folding machinecapable of handling a plurality of webs simultaneously.

A further object of this invention is to provide r a paper napkin foldimmachine operable at high speed without injury to the paper.

A further object of this invention is to provide improvements inmachines for folding paper napkins, towels and any web material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a synchronized suctiongripping mechanism on web folding machines.

Aspeoific object of this invention is to provide a paper napkin foldingmachine including co operating folding rolls, or a plurality of suchrolls,

for receiving a paper web into the nips therebetween, together withmeans for gripping the web along the anticipated lines of fold againstalternate rolls and severing the so held folded portions.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following detailed description of theannexed sheets of drawings which disclose a preferred em.- bodiment ofthe invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the folding machine of thisinvention with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, takensubstantially along the line IV--IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, takensubstantially along the line VV of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, takensubstantially along the line VIVI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the lineVII-VII of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line.VIIIVIII of Figure 5.

As shown on the drawings:

The frame structure As best shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, thereference numerals Ill designate four vertical posts mounted onpedestals I l. The posts ll] support lower and upper plates I2 and i3respectively. As best shown in Figure 2, the plate l2 carries at theback end thereof a rectangular strap H5 having a fiat side l5 thereofsecured to the plate l2 and a top fiat side t6 spaced above the plate.

The bottom side l5 and the top side it of the strap it supports bossesI! which receive shanks l8 of eye members Ill. The shanks Hi can bevertically adjusted in the bosses H and the bosses H can be adjustedlongitudinally along the sides l5 and 16 of the strap M,

The front end of the plate M, as best shown in Figure 2, carriesforwardly extending brackets such as 2!), which brackets 20 supportvertical frames 2| in spaced relation in front of the main frame. Theframes 2| carry the nap-kin receiving magazines as will be more fullyhereinafter described.

The web feeding structure As best shown in Figure 2, webs W and W slitfrom a jumbo roll of paper (not shown) are directed under a guide roll22. The web W passes around a breast roll 23 onto a triangular formingplate 24 swivelly mounted on the eye member l9. The web- W is directedaround another breast roll 23 spaced above the breast roll 23 and fromthe breast roll 23 passes onto a triangular plate 24 swivelly carried inthe eye member l9 supported on the upper side I6 of the bracket l4 asdescribed above.

As best shown in Figure 4, the plate 24 is triangular in shape with thebase thereof adjacent the breast roll 23. The breast roll 23 isrotatably mounted at its ends in brackets 25 carried by a cross rod 26secured to the back posts ID.

The plates 24 and 24 are adjusted on the eye members I 9 at a properincline so that the apices of the plates are in position to feed thewebs W and W to proper places in the machine. The plates are then lookedin adjusted position.

The apices of the triangular plates 24 and 24' are disposed betweenvertical feed rolls 2! rotatably mounted in the frame plates i2 and I3and driven as will be hereinafter described.

As the webs W and W pass over the plates 24 and 24 into the nip betweenthe rolls 21, they are folded longitudinally by being drawn over theedges of the plates, as is well known in the art.

The creased webs W and W are directed from the feed rolls 2? into thenips of folding rolls.

The folding rolls The plates l2 and I3 of the frame rotatably supportvertical shafts 28 and 29 extending between the plates. The portion ofshaft 28 between the plates l2 and I3 of the frame carries rolls 39 and3! in spaced superimposed relation. The shaft 29 carries rolls 32 and 33in horizontal alignment with the rolls 3!] and 3|.

The rolls 3B and 32 and the rolls 3| and 33 cooperate with each other toform cooperating pairs of folding rolls. The rolls 39 and 32 handle theweb W while the rolls 3| and 33 handle the web W.

Each roll 39 to 33 inclusive is provided with a plurality ofcircumferential slots 34 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fullydescribed. The slots 34 terminate in spaced relation from the hubs 35 ofthe rolls as best shown in Figure 5. As best shown in Figure 5, the hubof the roll 32 is superimposed on top of the hub 35 0f the roll 33. Itshould be understood that additional rolls may be superimposed on theroll 32 or disposed below the roll 33 in larger size machines withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention.

The web gripping mechanism As best shown in Figure 4, the roll 3| hasvertical bores 35 and 3'! extending through the hub 35 thereof adjacentto the shaft 28 carrying the roll. The bores 35 and 31 are insubstantially diametrically opposed relation.

The hub 35 of the roll 3| also has bores 38 and extending verticallytherethrough in diametrically opposed relation. The bores 38 and 39 arespaced further from the shaft 28 than are the bores 36 and 31.

Each bore 35 to 39 communicates with the outer periphery of the roll 3|through a plurality of horizontal bores 43, The rolls 30, 32 and 33 areof identical construction.

As best shown in Figure 5, the vertical bores through the hub 35 of therolls such as t bores 38 and 39 do not communicate with the superimposedroll but are closed at the points where the hub 35 of the rolls contactby means of sealing rings 4|.

As best shown in Figures 5 to 8, the vertical bore 35 communicates withan arcuate groove 35 at the base of the hub 35 of the roll 33. Likewisethe vertical bore 3'! communicates with an arcuate groove 31; thevertical bore 38 communicates with an arcuate groove 38; and thevertical bore 39 communicates with an arcuate groove 39'.

The roll 33 has the same construction at the base of its hub 35 whilethe top rolls 3G and 32 have the same construction at the tops of theirhubs 35.

Stationary valves such as 4| are loosely mounted upon the rollsupporting shafts 28 and 29 adjacent the arcuate grooves in the hubs ofthe rolls.

Each valve 4| has an outlet 42 for connection with a vacuum pump orother source of suction. The outlet 42 communicates with an arcuatechamber 43 in the valve as best shown in Figure 6. This chamber 43 hasan opening 44 for communicating with the outer grooves 38' and 39 of therolls. The chamber 43 also has an opening 45 for communicating with theinner grooves 35 and 3'| of the rolls.

The valve 4| also has a chamber 46 communicating with the atmosphere at41 in the outer periphery of the valve, The chamber 45 has an opening 48for communicating with the outer grooves 38 and 39 of the rolls and asecond opening 49 for communicating with the inner grooves 36 and 3'! ofthe rolls.

The arcuate grooves 36 to 39 in the rolls are arranged to communicatewith the suction chamber 43 of the valve and with the exhaust che mber46 of the valve at regular predetermined periods during a revolution ofa roll. The horizontal bores 49 communicating with the periphery of theroll are thus subjected to suction at the desired point during therevolution of the roll and this suction is held for the desired periodof time until the suction is broken when the grooves communicating withthe bores pass over the exhaust openings 48 and 49 in the valve.

As best shown in Figure 4, therefore, as the leading end of the web Wenters into the nip be tween the rolls 3| and 33, the vertical bore 39of the roll 3| communicates with the vacuum chamber 43 of the valve andthis leading end of the web is held or gripped on the roll. The web isthen wrapped around the roll until the bores 40 communicating with thevertical bore 3'! of the roll 33 rotates into position to receive aportion of the web spaced from the leading end thereof. At this momentthe Vertical bore 37 is subjected to suction and the Web W is suckedagainst the roll 33. This action pulls the portion of the web spacedfrom the leading end thereof away from the roll 3| as shown in Figure 4and as the rolls continue to rotate, the fold F is formed in the web W.Vertical idler rolls 50, best shown in Figure l, are disposed adjacenteach roll 3| and 33 for guiding the leading end of the web thereover asit is pulled from the roll 3|.

The severing device As best shown in Figures 1 and 4, an angle member 5|is vertically mounted between the frame plates I2 and I3 in front of thefolding rolls. The angle member 5|, as shown in Figure 4, has legs 52disposed at right angles to each other and facing respectively thecooperating fold rolls. E ach leg 52 of the angle member 5| carries acutting blade 53 thereon having the cutting edge thereof spaced from thecooperating rolls.

Adjusting bolts .54 are provided for spacing the cutting edge at aproper distance from the rolls.

Each roll 31 to 33 has secured in vertical slots 55 in the peripheriesof the rolls, cutting knives 5% having the cutting edges thereofprojecting beyond the peripheries of the rolls. The cutting knives 5Bare disposed in diametrically opposed relation immediately ahead of thebores 4i) communicating with the vertical bores 38 and 39 of the rolls.Therefore, as the fold F is completed on the web W, a cutting knife 56passes over a cutter 53 to sever the folded web. Since the suction bores38 and 39 are immediately behind the cutters on the rolls the leadingedge of the web is immediately engaged against a roll by suction.

' The folded napkin N, after being severed from the Web W, is still heldon the roll by suction as best shown in Figure 4.

The fold creasers As the fold F of the web passes beyond the cutters 53on a folding roll, it is creased fiat by a creasing r0115! having araised cam portion 570. thereon adapted to squeeze the fold against afold roll and iron out a crease in the fold.

The rolls 5'! are rotatably mounted vertically between the frame platesas shown in Figure 1 on each side of the angle member 5!.

After the crease is formed, the cutters sever a napkin N from the web.

The strippers and napkin magazines It has been pointed out above whereinthe fold rolls are provided with radial slots 34. The slots 34 receivefingers 60 therein as the rolls carry a napkin N toward a napkinreceiving magazine M. The napkin receiving magazines M are carried inthe frame structure 2! described in Figure 2 and extend inwardly fromthis frame structure into proximity with the folding rolls. As bestshown in Figure 4, the magazines have open ends for receiving foldednapkins N therein.

The fingers Eii are secured at their outer ends in holders iii. Theholders Bl as best shown in Figure l, are carried on vertical shafts 62and 63 rotatably mounted between the frame plates l2 and iii.

The stripping fingers Gil are operated so as to enter the grooves 154 ofthe roll ahead of the folds F on the web and are moved out of thegrooves to force the severed napkin N off of the roll and into theadjacent magazine M. During the stripping operation the vertical bores36 and El operating through the passageways or bores ii to hold theleading end of the napkin against the roll are exposed to the atmospherethrough the opening M in the valve for breaking the suction and thenapkin is readily removed from the roll by the strippers.

The drive mechanism As shown in Figure 1, a horizontal drive shaft lilextends under the frame plate I2 of the machine and has a bevel gear 'iisecured thereon. The gear '55 meshes with a gear l2 secured on thevertical shaft 28 carrying the fold rolls 3i] and 3i. It should ofcourse be understood that these rolls are keyed or otherwise fixedlysecured to the shaft 23.

Asbest shown in Figure 3, the top of the shaft 28 has a large'gear l3keyed thereon above the top frame plate It. The gear 13 meshes with agear 14 secured on the shaft 29 carrying the fold rolls 32 and 33. Thecooperating pairs of fold rolls 39 and 32; 3! and 33 are thus driven atsynchronous speeds.

The tops of the creasing rolls 5'! receive sprocket gears 15 thereon.Sprocket gears "it are also secured on the shafts 28 and 29 above thelarge gears i3 and M. Chains H are entrained around the sprocket gearsl5 and it as shown. The sizes of the gears 15 and 76 are arranged sothat the creasing rolls 55 are r0 tated in proper timed relation withthe rotation of the fold rolls.

A gear 18 rotatably mounted on the top frame plate i3 engages with thelarge gear is on the vertical shaft 28. As shown in Figures 1 and 2,gear '18 has a boss "59 projecting upwardly from the center thereof andcarrying a disc 88 dieposed above the large gear ?3. The disc 80 isslotted diametrically thereacross as at M (Figure 3). The slot 8! ispreferably T-shaped in cross-section and receives the head of a bolt 82.therein. The eyeend 83 (Figure l) of a rod at is disposed around theboltti'i and secured thereon by a nut .85. The other end of the rod 8&has an eye 85 thereon disposed around a pin 8'! on an arm member .83secured to the top of the shaft 2 carrying the holders (ii for thestripping fingers 60.

Therefore, as the large gear i3 is rotated the gear i8 is driven torotate the disc as for oscillating the rod 84 to oscillate the shaft 62through the arm 88. The desired amount of oscillation is obtained byregulation of the head of the bolt 82 in proper spaced relation from thecenter of the disc'8D in the groove '8l of the disc.

The large gear M on the shaft 29 drives an identical gear l8 and linkarrangement described above for oscillating the shaft 63 to operate thestrippers adjacent the fold rolls 32 and 33.

Operation of the machine From the above descriptions it should beunderstood that the webs W and W entering the machine are foldedlongitudinally as they pass over the triangular shaped plates 24 and 2d.This fold is creased as the webs pass between the nip of the feed rolls21.

The leading ends of the folded webs are gripped by suction to hold theseends alternately against one or the other of the fold rolls.

As the webs pass between the nip of the fold rolls with their leadingends held on one of the cooperating rolls, a portion of the webs spacedfrom the leading ends is gripped by suction against the opposite roll.This portion then moves around the opposite roll while the leading endsof the Webs are released from the first roll to form a transverse foldin the webs, which is creased and ironed out by the creasers 51.

The longitudinally and transversely folded Web is then severed to formthe finished napkin N while the transverse fold portion of the napkin isheld on the second roll.

As the foldednapkin passes on the second roll adjacent to a napkinmagazine, the suction gripping the napkin to the roll is broken and thestrippers move the napkin into the magazine.

Therefore the napkins are alternately formed on opposite cooperatingfold rolls and two napkins are folded on each roll during eachrevolution thereof. Thus a cooperating pair of fold rolls folds fournapkins during each revolution. Since as many pairs of cooperating foldrolls can be superimposed in machines of this invention as desired, thenumber of napkins folded by the machine per unit revolution of themachine is practically unlimited.

The machine can be driven at high speed and handles even the lightestweight tissue without damage.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A web folding machine comprising a pair of cooperating folding rollsfor receiving a web into the nip therebetween, means associated witheach of said rolls for sequentially holding portions of said Web againstsaid rolls, mechanism synchronizing the sequential operation of saidmeans to fold and hold the leading end of said web first against oneroll and then the other and means for severing the successively foldedleading ends from the web.

2. A web folding machine comprising a pair of cooperating folding rollsfor receiving a web into the nip therebetween, suction means associatedwith. each of said rolls for sequentially holding portions of said webagainst said rolls, mechanism synchronizing the sequential operation ofsaid suction means to fold and hold the leading end of said web firstagainst one roll and then the other and means for severing thesuccessively folded leading ends from the web.

3. A web folding machine comprising a pair of cooperating folding rollsfor receiving a web into the nip therebetween, means associated witheach of said rolls for sequentially holding portions of said web againstsaid rolls, mechanism synchronizing the sequential operation of saidmeans to fold and hold the leading end of said web first against oneroll and then the other, rolls associated with said folding rolls tocrease the leading edge portions of successively formed leading ends ofthe web, and means for severing the successively folded leading endsfrom the web.

4. A web folding machine comprising a pair of cooperating folding rollsfor receiving a web into the nip therebetween, suction means associatedwith each of said rolls for sequentially holding portions of said webagainst said rolls, mechanism synchronizing the sequential operation ofsaid suction means to fold and hold the leading end of said web firstagainst one roll and then the other, means for severing the successivelyfolded leading ends from the web, and means for stripping and stackingeach severed folded leading end.

5. A napkin folding machine comprising a pair of cooperating foldingrolls for receiving a longitudinally folded web, each roll being groovedperipherally and having axially and radially eX- tending passagesopening at the roll surfaces between said grooves, a suction header foreach roll for the sequential application of suction to said passages tocause the leading end of said web to be folded and held against saidrolls alternately, means for severing the so folded ends to form napkinstherefrom and means for stripping said napkins from said rolls, saidstripping means including fingers movable into and out of said grooves.

6. A napkin folding machine comprising a pair of cooperating foldingrolls for receiving a longitudinally folded web, each roll being groovedperipherally and having axially and radially extending passages openingat the roll surfaces between said grooves, a suction header for eachroll for the sequential application of suction to said passages to causethe leading end of said web to be folded and held against said rollsalternately, means for severing the so folded ends to form napkinstherefrom, means for stripping said napkins from said rolls, saidstripping means includ ing fingers movable into and out of said grooves,common driving means for said forming rolls and mechanism actuated bysaid driving means for operating said fingers in synchronism with saidsevering means.

'7. A napkin folding machine comprising a pair of cooperating foldingrolls, means for feeding a longitudinally folded web to said rolls,means associated with said rolls for sequentially holding portions ofsaid Web against said rolls, mechanism synchronizing the sequentialoperation of said last mentioned means to fold and hold the leading endof said web first against one roll and then against the other roll,means for creasing the folded edges so formed, means for severing thesuccessively folded leading ends while so held against one or the otherof said rolls and means for stripping and stacking the thus severedfolded napkins.

8. A napkin folding machine comprising a pair of cooperating foldingrolls, means for feeding a longitudinally folded web to said rolls,suction means associated with said rolls for sequentially holdingportions of said Web against said rolls, mechanism synchronizing thesequential operation of said suction means to fold and hold the leadingend of said web first against one roll and then against the other roll,rolls cooperating with said forming rolls for creasing the folded edgesso formed, means for severing the successively folded leading ends whileso held against one or the other of said rolls and means for strippingand stacking the thus severed folded napkins.

9. In a web folding machine, a pair of roll supporting shafts in spacedrelation and a plurality of individual fold rolls mounted on each shaft,the rolls on one shaft cooperating with the rolls on the other shaft toreceive webs in the nips therebetween.

10. In a web folding machine, two vertical stacks of individual foldrolls, the rolls in each stack being aligned horizontally with eachother to define nips therebetween for receiving separate webs therein.

11. A fold roll comprising a cylindrical member including a central hubportion, said member having slots extending radially from the hubportion to the outer periphery thereof, said hub portion havingpassageways axially thereof and said cylindrical member having passagescommunicating with said passageways and extending to the periphery ofthe roll for application of suction to webs coming in contact with theperiphery of the roll.

12. A fold roll comprising a cylindrical member having axial passagewaysthru the mid portion thereof and radial passages communicating with thepassageways defining a plurality of holes in the periphery of themember.

13. In a web folding machine, a fold roll having a plurality of axialpassageways and radial passages connecting the passageways with theperiphery of the roll, means for rotating said roll 75 shaft to drivetheroll whereby the passages of the roll are subjected to suction forgripping a web on the periphery of the roll at predetermined timeincrements.

15. In a web folding machine, a shaft, a plurality of fold rolls mountedon said shaft having communicating axial and radial passageways, saidradial passageways defining holes on the periphery of the rolls,stationary valves disposed around said shaft adjacent each roll havingsuction and exhaust ports, the faces of the rolls adjacent the valveshaving arcuate grooves each communicating with an axial passageway andadapted to register with the ports of the valve whereby a rotation ofthe shaft drives the rolls and webs coming in contact with the rolls aregripped thereon by suction for a predetermined amount of travel thereon.

16. In a web folding machine, a pair of cooperating fold rolls havinglongitudinal slots in the peripheries thereof, knives carried in saidslots projecting beyond the rolls, a stationary member mounted adjacentthe nip between the rolls, a pair of knives carried by said member eachfacing a roll and adapted to cooperate with the roll knives to sever aweb carried on the rolls.

17. A web folding machine comprising means for forming and folding a weblongitudinally, a pair of cooperating folding rolls for receiving a webinto the nip therebetween, web holding means associated with each ofsaid rolls and so arranged and synchronized that while the leading endof said web is held against the first roll an intermediate portion ofsaid Web is gripped by the second roll and said leading end immediatelythereafter released to produce a folded web portion on said second roll,and means for severing said folded Web portion from the web while stillgripped by said second roll.

18. A web folding machine comprising a pair of cooperating fold rollsfor receiving a web into the nip therebetween, web-holding meansassociated with each of said rolls and so arranged and synchronized thatsuccessive leading ends of said web are alternately held against thefirst roll and then against the second roll while portions of the webspaced from the successive leading ends are respectively held againstthe second roll and then against the first roll to produce a fold in theweb along the thus held portion spaced from the web and means forsevering the folded web portions from the remainder of the web whilesaid portions are retained on a fold roll.

19. Paper converting apparatus comprising a pair of fold rolls forreceiving a web of paper into the nip therebetween, web-holding meansassociated with each of said rolls and so arranged and synchronized tohold successive leading ends of the web alternately on one roll and thenon the second roll and a portion of the web spaced from the leading endson the roll not having the leading end thereon to fold the leadingportion of the web, and cutting means for severing the folded portion ofthe web from the remainder of the web while said folded portion is heldon one of said rolls.

20. A napkin folding machine comprising a pair of fold rolls, a napkinreceiving magazine adja cent each fold roll to receive the napkinstherefrom, web-holding means associated with each of said fold rolls soarranged and synchronized to hold successive leading ends of a web ofpaper alternately on one roll and then on the other roll, and a portionof said web of paper spaced from the leading ends thereof on the rollnot receiving the leading end to fold the leading portion of the web,cutting means for severing the folded portion of the web from theremainder of the web, part of said web-holding means holding the severedfolded portion on the roll initially receiving the portion of the webspaced from the leading ends for conveyance of the folded portion to amagazine and a stripper device associated with each fold roll totransfer a folded web thereon from the roll into the adjacent magazine.

PETER J. CHRISTMAN.

